Moistening device.



H; B." DALTON.

(Animation filed Dec. 13, 1897.)

(No Model.)

Patented Nov. 27, I900.

WITNESSES:

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m: NORRIS wz'rzns do. PHOTO-LUNG WASHINGTON, u. 0.

BY (/Uwuum/ Mme;

1111s ATTORNEY.

a'rnivr @lrricn.

HARRY B. DALTON, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

MOISTENING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,892, dated November27, 1900.

Application filed December 18, 1897. Serial No. 661,625. (No model.)

To (0% whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY B. DALTON, a citizen of the United States,residing in Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in MoisteningDevices, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in moistening devices adapted to beused in cases or grips designed to contain articles requiring thepresence of moisture-as, for instance, cigars, chewing-tobacco, &c.

The object of my invention is to provide a moistening device that may bereadily fastened in place in a case and may be easily adjusted to anydesired position therein, the receptacle holding the moisteniug materialbeing provided with releasable fastening devices adapted to engage thewalls of the case.

My invention provides,further,a m oistening device havinga perforatedreceptacle for the moistening material, the receptacle being providedwith a releasable cover for the insertion or removal of the moisteningmaterial and guards for preventing contact of the goods held in thepacking case or grip with the perforated walls of the receptacle.

My invention provides,further,spring-actuated supports for thereceptacle, adapted to engage the walls of the ease.

My invention provides, also, certain novel features of constructionhereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure Irepresents a vertical cross-section view of a packing-case in which aresecured two of my moistening devices shown in end elevation. Fig. IIrepresents a plan view of the moistening device with a portion of theside guard broken away, so as to disclose the perforated receptacle.Fig. III represents a vertical sectional View taken on the dotted line aZ) of Fig. II. Fig. IV represents a longitudinal sectional view of oneof the end tubular guides and spring-actuated case-engaging devices.Fig. V represents a plan view of the end of the receptacle provided witha modified form of case-engaging device, comprising a single Wirepointed at its ends and composed of spring material.

'In this view one of the arms is bent inwardly to the position occupiedby it when the moistening device is inserted in the packing-case.

Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts.

1 indicates the receptacle for the moistening material. The receptacleis shown as being in the form of a rectangular-shaped box having a cover2. The moistening material 3 is preferably of a substance like mineralwool; but any good absorbent may be utilized. The walls of thereceptacle and cover are provided with perforations l, adapted to permitthe passage therethrough of the moisture from the interior of thereceptacle. At each end of the receptacle and secured transverselythereto is a tubular guide 5. In each guide 5, at each end, is a slidingplunger-6, adapted to move in and outwardly in the tubularguide. Eachplunger 6 has secured near its inner end a stud 7, adapted to be graspedby the fingers for the purpose of drawing the plunger 6 inwardly. Theguide 5 is provided near each end with a longitudinal slot 8, through.which the stud 7 extends. Within the guide 5 and the tubular plungers 6is placed a coiled spring 9, the ends of which abut against the innerends of the caps 10, which are secured one at each outer end of eachplunger 6 The caps 10 are each provided with a central point 11, adaptedto penetrate the walls of the case. The tension of the springs 9 is suchthat the plungers will be forced outwardly until the points 11 haveengaged the case-wall. The studs 7 prevent the plunger-s being forcedentirely out of the guides. Transversely across the top and bottom ofthe receptacle 1 .are secured several strips 12, upon which are securedthe plates 13, which serve as guards to prevent the goods held in thecase, such as boxes of cigars, from closing the perforations at and alsoprevent goods from being mildewed by too close proximity to theperforations through which theinoisture in the receptacle escapes.Extending through perforations provided therefor in the upper and lowerplates 13 and the top and bottom of the receptacle 1 is a vertical bolt14, upon the upper end of which is provided a nut 15, which is locatedupon the top of the upper plate 13.

I displacement of the device.

This bolt and nut serve to secure the cover and guard-plate 13,. securedthereto,'to the body of the receptacle.

In Fig. I is shown a packing-case, such as is commonly used forsample-cases for boxes of cigars. It is of the telescoping kind,comprising two parts, (indicated by 16 and 17, re-

" spectively.)

My invention is operated as follows: The bottom moistening device isfirst placed in the lower half of the case, the plungers 6 being forcedinwardly bypressing inwardly on the studs 7. After the device has beenplaced in the desired position in the case the studs are released, andthe springs 9 force the points 11 into the Walls of the case, preventingthe then placed in the case, and afterward the upper moistening deviceis secured in position in the same manner as described with reference tothe lower one. To fill the receptacle with moistening material, such asmineral wool, the nut 15 is removed from the bolt 14 and the cover 2removed from the body of the receptacle. The cover is then replaced andsecured by the placing of the nut on the bolt. Then the Whole device maybe placed in water until the wool has become saturated. It is then readyfor use.

In Fig. V, I have illustrated a modification of the case-engagingdevice, comprising a piece of spring-wire 18, secured transversely tothe end of the receptacle similarly to the tube 5. One or more coils maybe provided in the Wire, as indicated by 19, near each side of thereceptacle to serve as a spring. The ends of the wire then extendoutwardly at an angle, the extreme ends being pointed, so as topenetrate the walls of the case ashort distance. lWIyinvention iscapable of other modifications without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. A moistening device comprising a rec- The goods are tangularreceptacle prox ided with two perforated parallel walls, a guard-platedisposed oppositely to each of said perforated walls, a bolt extendingthrough the receptacle and securing the guard-plates thereto, andsupportingdevices on the receptacle adapted to engage the walls of apacking-case, substantially as described.

2. A moistening device comprising a perforated receptacle for moisteningmaterial, an imperforate guard covering the perforated receptacle andsecured thereto but provided with an intervening air-space for theescape of moisture around the edges of the guard, and supporting meansfor the receptacle, substantially as described.

3. A moistening device comprising a perforated receptacle for moisteningmaterial, an imperforate plate covering the said perforations but out ofdirect contact with the receptacle, a guiding-tube on each end of thereceptacle, two pointed devices mountedin each of said tubes, and aspring in each of said tubes bearing against the two pointed deviceslocated therein, substantially as described.

4. A moistening device comprising a rectangular receptacle provided withtwo perforated walls, an im perforate guard-plate covering each of saidperforated walls but having an air-space between the receptacle and theguard-plates, a bolt passing through the receptacle and secured to theguard-plates, two tubes secured one to each end or" the receptacle, twopointed bolts mounted in each tube with the pointed ends out, andaspringin each tube bearing against the two bolts tending to force themoutwardly, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence oftwo witnesses.

HARRY B. DALToN.

Witnesses:

WARREN D. I-Iousn, E. E. CHANDLER.

